In one episode of Sex and the City, Carrie Bradshaw runs the numbers on the small fortune she has spent over the years on her friends’ weddings and children, then realizes there is no equivalent social ritual, no socially sanctioned moment, in which that generosity flows back to single women like her.

The scene stayed with me for days. I couldn’t help but wonder: where do pet parents fall in the economy of gift-giving?

Because if dogs and cats are their chosen kin—their daily responsibilities, their ballast and anchor, their great emotional investments—then surely their pets define what “a meaningful gift” looks like. 

With that thought in mind, I messaged a few people in my network—devoted dog parents, lifelong cat people, and the happily obsessed—to ask them, plainly: What do you actually want to receive for the holidays? What gifts would make you feel seen as a pet parent? And does it matter to you if your pets receive presents too?

The answers that came back were telling. 

For many pet parents, the most wished-for gifts are really about time, memory, and recognition. They want experiences with their pets such as matching outfits and photo shoots, staycations where cats are welcome, or keepsakes that honor both living pets and those already gone. Hand-painted portraits, personalized mementos, and reminders of past companions surfaced again and again, revealing how memory, grief, and continuity are woven into the way people love their animals.

At the same time, love in the pet-parent world is also practical. Wet food, litter, kibble, air purifiers, strollers, and gift checks to pet stores are all seen as gestures of real understanding—along with offers to petsit, help at home, or simply say, “You’re doing a good job.” 

And when asked whether it mattered if someone gave their pets gifts too, nearly everyone said some version of the same answer: yes, because our pets are our family. 

Across all these answers, there is one overarching theme: pet parents don’t want extravagance. They want simple things that recognize the abiding love that already shapes their daily lives.

We’ve included our respondents’ full, unfiltered answers below, shared exactly as they were given.

The questions were:

1. What do you secretly wish someone would give you this Christmas as a pet parent?
2. What gift would make you feel really seen as a pet parent?
3. Would it matter to you if someone gave your pet a gift too? Why or why not?

Char Vilchez, Public Relations Professional and Storyteller

1. Matching outfits for me and my Chimara! Like a matching scarf, hat, or top, something like that! Then a photo shoot! I really do want to take more photos with my cat to share with friends and family.
2. Probably wet food, soy litter, or even the powder to help minimize the smell of the cat’s pee or urine. It’s a hint that the person knows the responsibility of being a cat parent too—it’s not all glamorous!
3. I think it would be a nice gesture, especially since I don’t have a child and I’m not married. My pet is my better half, she’s a huge chunk of my world. My therapist once even said that if my cat is well taken care of, then I’m also taking care of myself. But, my friends or family are not obliged to give a gift to Chimmy. I wouldn’t want them to feel that pressure at all!

Ayemi Pastorfide, IT Infrastructure Manager

1. Pet health insurance or a magic pill to extend my dog’s life further
2. My main love language is words of affirmation so it would make me feel seen for someone to tell me I’m doing a great job as a parent despite not being a perfect one
3. Yes, for me it matters that other people appreciate and love my dog too even through small tokens.

Tincee Canlas, Doctor of Neurology

1. As a pet parent I secretly wish that someone would give me a two-tier pet stroller so I can take multiple cats/dogs with me on walks.
2. I think if someone would sponsor a dog/cat in need as a gift that would be really lovely. Anything personalized that would remind me of my pets who have passed would mean so much to me as well.
3. I would be very grateful if someone gave my pet a gift too, because they deserve all the joy and happiness in the world.

Pip Mendoza, Marketing Professional

1. Artwork or merch of my cats. I’d love to have a piece that I can carry with me wherever I go. Shirts, mugs, buttons, even stickers are something I’d greatly appreciate!
2. The practical stuff: kibble and cat sand. In our home we’re also feeding three cats who visit through our roof on the daily and I not only want to be a good fur parent for Mimaw and Patchy, but also be consistent in helping other cats whenever I can.
3. Yes. Absolutely. My cats are family, and for them to be seen as that, beyond being ‘pets,’ affirms the love that I give to them daily. I want my cats to be involved in all the things that I do.

Kira Ramirez, Entrepreneur and Sustainability Enthusiast (IG: @rinseandrepeat.ph)

1. A hand-painted portrait of Tibby and me… or one with all three of my cats plus Epsilon (my chihuahua who passed). I collect cat-inspired art from local artists, but I still don’t have a piece that’s actually us. It would seriously make my whole 2026.
2. I received Christmas cards from IG friends addressed to Tibby and me, and wow—instant warm fuzzies. Nothing makes you feel more understood than mail for you and your cat.
3. Recognizing me as Tibby’s mom already makes my day, and at events, people usually recognize Tibby first before realizing I’m her Mom, which I find adorable. And if someone gives her a little gift, it’ll be very much appreciated by both of us!

Q Labrador, Motion Designer

1. Cat bed / hammock
2. Any toy / accessories for my cats
3. Not so much but I would really appreciate it. I like it when friends think about my pets since they feel like an extension of me. I’d actually prefer a present for them rather than for myself.

Tina Del Rosario, International Trade and Development Strategist

1. The nice-to-haves—for example, their treats. Like a can of Churu or the freeze-dried chicken that they’ve grown to love. Or new cat toys / scratching boards.
2. The offer to petsit if / when we need to go out of town. I can be very anxious about leaving our cats behind and this is the type of offer that usually only comes from people who really know us and how much we love our babies—so we also know that our cats will be well taken care of while we’re gone.
3. I think we would still be quite touched if someone gave our cats a gift, just because it’s a recognition of how important they are in our lives.

Karen Navarroza, Senior Property & Asset Manager

1. For myself, an air purifier to help with all the fur around! I’ve come to accept the fur, but less of it would be very much welcome. For my cat, Tiger, one of those door hanging ledges
2. I love quality time—so a time to catch up and bond, where pets are also welcome so I won’t have to leave Tiger. Better if it’s a staycation or vacation! 
3. It won’t matter to me if they won’t give a gift for my pet, but it would be such a big deal for me if they got Tiger a gift as well. It shows that they care enough about me to care about those I care for, including my pet.

Meyzi Baltazar, Entrepreneur and Catsitter (IG: @catsofalejandra)

1. It’s funny because I was asked recently for a birthday gift. While many have given cake, there’s one that stood out—she gave me bags of Royal Canin food for my cats and some treats. I can’t deny free pet food is helpful to every pet parent!!!
2. I like miniatures as well as furniture, and this coming holidays, it would make me feel seen if the gifts would be cat friendly: something that can be scratched, that is not fragile if it falls, and not poisonous. I live alone with my cats so it’s important that I maintain the space I share with them. 
3. I like thoughtful gifts! I wouldn’t mind a gift given just for me. But I always feel touched if someone would also think about my cats.

Kate Alvarez, Lifestyle Journalist (IG: @replikate @crazydogcatlady)

1. Gift checks to Pet Express and Petto Mart. It’s the pet parent equivalent of giving Rustan’s GCs to your newlywed friends.
2. Gifts that let me know that you know what’s going on with my life and my dogs’ and cats’ lives. For example, a friend gave me a personalized treats jar for my newly-rescued aspin and I appreciated that. When my dog died in 2022, my friend Javi gave me a portrait of me and my late dog Snoopy for Christmas and it made me cry.
3. It does matter because it means you pay attention to my “children” who are important to me. I give gifts to my friends’ dogs and cats on Christmas, too. Sometimes I skip giving my friends gifts and just buy something for the cats and dogs, haha! I make sure the gifts suit the pet’s personality, health/diet, and aesthetic based on their outfits and accessories on IG.

Diza Simeon, Assistant Property Manager

1. As a pet parent, I would love to be gifted with either something I can keep forever like pet portraits, or something that would make my and my pets’ lives a little bit more convenient like a smart automatic feeder.
2. A gift that would make me feel seen as a pet parent would probably be a professional house cleaning session that uses pet-safe products! As a pet parent of 2 dogs, 4 cats, and currently fostering 2 kittens, cleaning becomes extra tedious with all the never-ending fur that flies around. Would be nice to get a day off from cleaning! LOL.
3. It doesn’t really matter to me if someone gave my pets a gift or not, but when they do, I truly and genuinely appreciate it. Because not only have they thought about me, but they also took a little more of their time choosing something for my babies! I always do my best in making sure my pets have everything they need, so gifts aren’t usually expected – but it’s still good to be surprised with one!

Leizel Lopez, Software QA Engineer

1. Something we didn’t know we needed (until we had it—coz someone gave it to us), e.g automatic water fountain, slow feeder, and litter box mat.
2. When we got married, a friend gifted us  with an air purifier.  This is one of the gifts that made me feel seen as a pet parent. It was so thoughtful. They knew we are pet parents and that it will be helpful.
3. It’s not necessary, but it would be nice if they would give a gift to our pets. A little something that made them think of our little furry ones is sooo touching and caring and so thoughtful of them to remember our fur babies.